We ate breakfast and left Gray Bay at 7:00 a.m. and drove around Moresby Island for awhile, not much to see and we took the ferry across at 9:30 to Graham Island.
(Note:we would have gone down into Moresby Camp but there was a sign that
said they were logging and to stay off of the roads.) We decided that we
would go north to Masset today and see what happens as this was about a three hour trip.
We stopped first at the Balancing Rock which is amazing how this rock has not fallen
over the years as the tides washes away at it, even Jacob trying to push it over didn't help.
We also stop to look at a couple carvings that we see along the highway. You can tell most of them have
been here for years and there is usually an historical story behind each carving.
There are so many deer along the highway as we drive, we had to actually stop a couple times because of deer in the road.
We got to Masset around 1:00 and went thru Old Masset which is where the original Haida tribe
still prevails. We stopped at the gift shop where they have original art from the
tribe and also historical books from Indian authors. We then went back to
Masset to find a vegetarian restaurant that we had eaten at last year called The
Santuary Cafe. It is now called Sugar Mamas and has moved into the
recreation building. This serves an authentic homemade vegetarian food in a 60's atmosphere.
Needless to say Jacob hated it and will never forgive us.
We continued north to Naikoon Provential Park with the ocean being on our left side and a rain forest on the right.
I have never seen so much moss growing on the ground and on the trees.
I decided to take a side rode that said beach access--only 4-wheel
drivers recommended. I drove a little ways out to the ocean and
decided to drive back, the only problem was that I got stuck coming back.
There was a couple on the beach next to their 4-wheeler and tent. They
informed me that they had just bought the land and although he would not
help me get it out he would let me borrow his shovel and advise me
how to get it out. After a hour of digging and getting nowhere, I decide to start
walking to the nearest house where somebody would be home. That was about
one mile down the main road. I called a couple places and finally got a tow
truck that had a 4-wheeler who helped me get out. He knew right where to
pick me up at as everybody knows everybody and everyplace on this island. While we waited
another truck offered to help as he could see me from the main road although
he couldnt get me out.
I was not that deep in the sand, it’s just that the sand
was too soft. The 4-4 tow truck and another person in my truck was finally
able to get it out of the sand. I went to their shop to pay the $65 and they were
real nice about the ordeal. They realized I was embarrassed and yet knew I
was in the wrong. They suggested some things I could do around the area and
where I could ride on the sand if I wanted to and to not be afraid of taking it
onto the sand up at the northern tip of the island . They also told me
where the best place was to catch crabs and what the license fee was if I was
interested. I know I wouldn't have received this kind of customer service in the city.
Now embarrassed and realizing we would not go all the way to Renell Sound today, as we stopped at Agate Beach. The campsights were close together, near the beach and with no shelter or privacy. We didn’t like them so we continured south and ended up at Misty Meadows campsite at 10:00 p.m. This was a nice place to stay for the night to get some sleep. We drove 250 miles and 6700 total for 14 days.